Alan had been working in sales for over 20 years, spending the last 11 of them at IBM, selling computer systems to banks. While he had accrued an incredible amount of specialist skills and knowledge in this time, he wasn’t entirely sure how they could translate into his ambition to run his own business.
Franchising and Sandler then came up on his radar. “It’s exactly what I was after,” says Alan. “When I made up my mind to leave IBM I struggled a little to think of business ideas that I felt were strong and sustainable. Sandler changed that. I could relate to what they had to say straight away, it just clicked with my own approach and how I like to operate.”
Alan came across Sandler after doing a quick Google search for franchise opportunities. The Sandler model stood out to him as something different – it offered him the chance to apply his considerable sales experience to a proven business model. One with all the materials, training and support systems in place, and a track record of success. He quickly made his move.
“From the off I received the support and guidance I needed,” he continues, “from both head office and other franchisees, to make a real go of things. The focus on personal development drives everyone in the network continuously. It has been a rewarding journey so far and I am only in my third year!”
After purchasing his Sandler business in June 2010, Alan now offers his training and business development services to the whole of Scotland, a market he’s found to be lucrative and in need of Sandler’s unique and market-leading offering.
With this newfound freedom and the chance to work on his terms, Alan is now free to live the life he wants and indulge in his other passions – which might not be what you’d stereotypically associate with someone who used to work in computers!
He concludes: “You might say I am a bit of an adrenline junkie. With my two boys, 14 and 16, we race high-performance sailboats. I have climbed six unclimbed peaks in Antarctica, motorbiked and climbed in the Himalayas and skiied most of Europe.
“My plan is to build my business so I can have a month off a year for an exciting trip. I see life as one big adventure – either in my business or my personal life.”
